Tackling burglary and reducing road traffic offences, have been revealed as two priorities for policing in Royston.

Sgt Steve Oliphant replaced Sgt Jon Vine as the town’s top policeman two weeks ago and has now announced his aims to reduce crime in the area.

The priorities, agreed at a neighbourhood panel meeting, include reducing criminal damage and graffiti, as well as tackling speeding and a recent increase in dwelling burglaries.

Sgt Oliphant, former safer neighbourhood sergeant in Hitchin, said: “It’s not a huge increase but it is significant to Royston as it’s a small town. We are running a proactive operation until Christmas to identify the offenders and with the support of the Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) doing crime prevention surveys in the affected areas.

“We would urge people to double lock their doors, ensure a light is on in their house when it’s dark and to be vigilant about people who are strange to their neighbourhood, if anyone is concerned or has any information, please call 101.”

Sgt Oliphant says it is believed that the dwelling burglaries are linked to a recent spate of three burglaries in one day.

Offenders stole cash, jewellery, cameras and personal documentation when they raided three homes in Poplar Drive, Hunters Way and Kipling Road on November 19.

Petrol powered machinery such as lawnmowers have also been stolen from garden sheds and outbuildings in nearby villages over the last month but police have now returned the items to their owners.

Sgt Oliphant, added: “I am quite familiar with the Royston area as I used to work here as a police constable. Things have developed, such as there is a Polish community now, one of town hall rooms is used as a mosque and the town is bigger, but every town changes over time.

“There are no real night time economy issues at the moment. The reaction to the opening of the Wetherspoon’s has so far been completely positive.”

Sgt Jon Vine has started a new role in Hitchin with Operation Scorpion – the force’s drive against serious acquisitive and drug related crime.